You’ve got one of our juicy fruit combo this week. The sun is shining, you’ve got lots of healthy fresh produce – it’s a fruity paradise. But now your fruits are looking a little sad.

Here we share how to keep your fruit combo fresh and nutritious for longer.

Bananas

Let your bananas ripen on your counter or fruit bowl. Once ripened you can keep them in the fridge. It is a myth that the fridge spoils your bananas faster. What does happen in the fridge is that the skin blackens, but the flesh is still good. You can seal your bananas in a plastic bag if you would like them to look more palatable. The bananas to keep their colour.

Bananas can be frozen. Frozen bananas will add an even creamier texture to smoothies.

Pawpaw

As some fruits ripen they release a gas called ethylene. This same ethylene can cause some other fruits, which are ethylene sensitive to ripen faster, or become soft.

Pawpaw is a fruit that releases ethylene, so be sure to keep it away from your watermelon. Pawpaw freezes well. Peel, remove seeds and cube before freezing in an airtight container.

Pineapple

Cut the leafy tops off your pineapple and store it upside down. This will allow gravity to redistribute the natural sugars, that would have settled to the bottom. This help the pineapple taste better and stay fresh for longer.

Pineapple can also be frozen, after it is peeled and cut. Once defrosted, it comes out softer and less tart which is delightful to eat.

Strawberry

While other fruits can ripen on the counter, strawberries will start to deteriorate, they are best kept in the fridge. Wash your berries right before you about to eat them, as any moisture can encourage mould. Store berries in a container lined with paper towels, to the lid not completely sealed to allow moisture to escape.

If you really want to make sure your berries stay fresh, LifeHacker has a trick that they claim can result in berries lasting significantly longer.

Wash the berries in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water, and then dry well. The solution should kill off any bacteria and mould.

Watermelon

Watermelon tastes so good and looks so appetising but it is so much effort to peel and cut. The best tip for watermelon is cutting it up, ready to enjoy so that you and your family whenever you like.

Watermelon is ethylene sensitive, so keep separate from avocados, bananas and pawpaw.

With any of your fruit or vegetables, be sure to remove the spoilt one before it can affect the other good fruits. Remember the crisp tray is the best place in the fridge to store your fresh produce.